Philadelphia School District Accused Of Closing Too Many Black Schools

Group files claim charging bias.

A group of Philadelphia organizers named Action United are accusing the city's school districts of disportionately closing predominately black schools.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:

In six of the eight schools that either closed or began the closing process in June, at least 13 percent more African American students are enrolled than the district average, the group says. It says the white population is at least 11 percent below the district average at seven of the eight schools.

African Americans make up 56 percent of all students. At Harrison Elementary in North Philadelphia, closed in June, for instance, African Americans were 94 percent of the population. At Drew Elementary in West Philadelphia, also closed in June, 79 percent of the students were African American.

"Instead of them bringing in the resources they need to make our schools better, they want to close them," says Marsha Moore, mother of a ninth grader Communications Technology High School. 

Because of the pending litigation, the district has declined to comment.